Alien Diplomacy

turned them you mean, right, Reynolds?”
    “Right. So they were being loyal to their former bosses. They were trying to find them, it looks like, when they were approached by an outside group to work against the current regime at Centaurion Division.”
    “How did you get all this so fast?”
    Chuckie shot me a rather disparaging look. “I didn’t start searching for infiltration this week, Kitty. What happened the other day just gave us some new avenues to check.”
    The light dawned. “Oh. That’s what you have Camilla working on.”
    “I can neither confirm nor deny.”
    “Good job, Secret Agent Man. Ready to go pretend to be normal for the all of five minutes before all hell breaks loose?”
    Chuckie laughed. “Absolutely.”



CHAPTER 76
    W E LOADED UP THE LIMOS. Mom and Kevin were in their government issued big, black Escalade, Kevin at the wheel. Dad, however, was riding in one of the limos. I figured Mom wanted him with laser shield capability.
    Our limo was in the lead as Len drove us out of the underground garage. “We’re going to be at a hotel, aren’t we?” I asked more to have something to say than anything else.
    “Yes,” Reader confirmed. “Same place they hold the Correspondents’ Dinner.”
    “So they should be used to security measures, right?”
    Jeff shook his head. “Maybe. But hotels have a lot of access points. They’re vulnerable and hard to really lock down.”
    “Thanks, we needed that.” I sighed. “Paul, what’s the ACE situation?”
    Gower looked uncomfortable and a little confused. “ACE seems calm, but he’s very focused on…something.”
    “Can you share the something?”
    “No, not really. I can’t handle having access to all ACE does; it would blow my mind, literally. So he locks me out of almost everything, including whatever it is he’s paying attention to.”
    Reader looked thoughtful. “So you and Kitty aren’t actually in any danger. At least, not right now.”
    Gower shrugged. “I suppose not.”
    “That sort of confirms Paul and I aren’t the assassination targets, doesn’t it? Because otherwise, you’re thinking that ACE would be stressing, right, James?”
    “Yeah.”
    Jeff sighed. “But we already knew this. Actions over the last few days to the contrary.”
    “You know, if it’s the usual, all the weird goings on will be related, at least somewhat. And I think we have all the clues. But none of them make sense.”
    “I think we’ve got nothing,” Jeff said flatly. “All Olga did was confirm our information, let us know she knows exactly who and what we are, and get you to realize the taxi drivers were actually former cops.”
    “That was a help.”
    “Only because Richard was willing to get both of you into the taxi so you weren’t shot on the street. Otherwise, they stole, then lost, the only proof we had.”
    “Well, we have other clues and confirmations.”
    “No,” Jeff said patiently. “We don’t. Everyone in the know is getting their information from the same source—your new buddy the tabloid reporter.”
    “There’s more than what we got from Mister Joel Oliver, and you know it.”
    “Yeah, but I think it’s worthless. You’re placing too much faith on the so-called intelligence the Dingo passed to you.”
    We lived close to where the ball was taking place, so our conversation stopped as we got into the limo line. “We’ll be dropping you, parking, then will call for Centaurion Division agents to guard the cars,” Kyle shared.
    Reader nodded. “Good. Tim and I already vetted those teams, so we should be secure, at least in terms of the vehicles.”
    “Too bad we can’t drive them into the ballroom and just shove everyone in.”
    “No more chatter,” Jeff said. “We’re going to be live and scrutinized shortly.”
    We pulled up; Len stayed at the wheel, Kyle got out and opened the curbside door. There were flashbulbs going off. I tried not to cringe. Jeff got out first, then helped me, with Reader and Gower following us.
    There was a paparazzi line. I wondered how his peers were going to react when they saw Oliver coming in with us, but I was too busy trying not to trip. There was nothing wrong with my shoes, but I was nervous about falling flat on my face anyway.
    A long line of dignitaries flowed into the hotel. I spotted a lot of native-dress costumes, which jibed with what Pierre had said. We passed minor chitchat with those around us. I didn’t see Mom orKevin anywhere, but I figured they